Skullwinder

Creature — Snake

Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)

When Skullwinder enters the battlefield, return target card from your graveyard to your hand, then choose an opponent. That player returns a card from his or her graveyard to his or her hand.

Discussion (50)

TheShadowNite on king-saproling

2 days ago

Hmm, this is strange. As far as I can tell, the endpanel and endaccordion lines are in the code, but it's not showing up in the description. I put the code for the description in a code box if you want to glance over it. Thanks for your help dude!

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===accordion
===panel: Background
I started playing Magic the Gathering back when Guilds of Ravnica was released. I bought 2 fat packs, and promptly built a Dimir surveil "standard" deck that was a steaming pile of hot poo. I then tried to "fix" it by adding in green, making it a sultai deck. This did nothing. However, ever since then, graveyard decks as well as the colors Black/Green/X have always had a special place in my heart. While I was assessing my commander decks, I realized I had never built a deck revolving around the graveyard, and I knew what I had to do. 
===endpanel
===panel: Building the Deck
To the Interwebs! I rushed to the computer to look on EDHRec to see what graveyard commanders there were. I already had a decent idea of what I was searching for. I had heard of [[Muldrotha, the Gravetide]], [[Meren of Clan Nel Toth]], as well as [[card:Karador, Ghost Chieftain]], but none of these seemed to speak to me. Going strictly Golgari seemed limiting, as there were many cards I wanted to play in blue. However, when I add blue to my decks, I always somehow turn it into a control deck, and I wanted this to be fun for the whole table. So, that idea sadly had to be thrown in the trash. I looked back over my options, and realized that I liked the idea of [[card:Karador, Ghost Chieftain]], I just didn't like how it limited you to one card per turn from the graveyard. So, I looked more into the Abzan colors, and found [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]]. It was exactly what I was looking for.
===endpanel
===panel: Gameplan
With [[Nethroi, Apex of Death]], I would be able to fill my graveyard to my hearts content, then at the opportune moment cast my commander, reanimating most of my graveyard and turning the tide of the game. Ideally, I would win on the spot once I cast my commander, but since that is not always guaranteed, I added in some "stax" (not sure if that is the right word). Essentially just cards that would slow down my opponents until I can fill up my graveyard with the combo, then reanimate it again with Nethroi. 
===endpanel
===panel: Winning the Game
The main way this deck wins is through a combo involving [[Reveillark]], [[Karmic Guide]], a sac outlet such as [[Viscera Seer]], and a pinger, such as [[Blood Artist]]. Assuming all the pieces are on the battlefield, you can sacrifice the Karmic Guide to the sac outlet. Now, there is a [[Reveillark]], [[Viscera Seer]], and a [[Blood Artist]] on the battlefield, with a [[Karmic Guide]] in the graveyard. Then, you can sacrifice the [[Reveillark]] to the [[Viscera Seer]] to bring back the [[Karmic Guide]]. When the Karmic Guide enters the battlefield, it's ability will trigger, allowing you to bring back the [[Reveillark]], so you can repeat the process as many times as you need, until every opponent dies from [[Blood Artist]] triggers. 
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While this deck may win through a combo, I don't want it to be as competitive as possible, as most of my playgroup is limited to a tight budget (College will do that to ya).  
===endpanel
===panel: Budget
In regards to budget, I'm trying to only buy <$100 worth of cards. I already own most of the cards in the deck, but any I don't I'll put in the acquire section.
===endpanel
===panel: Things I've Noticed/Help Needed
A few things I've noticed when I goldfished a couple hands with this deck is that it's very mana hungry, and its early game presence is quite lackluster. I tried cutting cards to add in more ramp, but it's to the point where I love every card in the deck, and I can't bring myself to cut more (it was originally a quite hefty 148 card deck when I first drew up a rough draft). What do you think I could cut/replace to keep the core idea of the deck, while getting it down to 100 cards? It seems to be a little all over the place, and I keep noticing I don't have the right cards I need in my hand at the right time. Since this is my first Commander/EDH graveyard focused deck, what are your thoughts? What are things I can improve (besides the atrocious mana curve)?
===endpanel
===panel: Upgrades/Cards I'm Considering
This is a list of potential upgrades for down the road, as they're too expensive for the deck at the moment:<br>
[[Hermit Druid]]<br>
[[Birds of Paradise]]<br>
[[Protean Hulk]]<br>
[[Fauna Shaman]]<br><br>
This is the list of cards I'm considering putting in the deck: <br> [[Ancient Craving]] <br> [[Dakmor Salvage]] <br> [[Drownyard Temple]] <br> [[Night's Whisper]] <br> [[Painful Truths]] <br> [[Plumb the Forbidden]] <br> [[Sign in Blood]] <br> [[Village Rites]] <br> [[Brainspoil]] (can grab [[Karmic Guide]] or [[Reveillark]]) <br> [[Skullwinder]] <br> 
===endpanel
===panel: Changelog
This is just a spot for me to know what I took out for what, in the case that some cards I add underperform, or some are overperformers :)<br><br> 05/07/21 <br> -[[Fiend Hunter]] OUT for [[Leonin Relic-Warder]]. While Relic-Warder does not target creatures, it combos with [[Animate Dead]] and a [[Blood Artist]] effect.<br> -[[Morality Shift]] OUT for [[Skullclamp]]. Mortality Shift's 7 cmc is pretty high, and by the time I can cast it there are probably better things to do. Skullclamp allows me to draw cards, one thing that this deck is lacking, for a very low cost. <br> -[[Drannith Magistrate]] and [[Sun Titan]] are OUT. Magistrate was only in as a friend has several scary [[Golos, Tireless Pilgrim]] decks, and it shuts him down until he removes it. I'm still on the fence about Sun Titan. It IS a nice effect, but I'm struggling to justify the mana cost, and if I decide to reanimate it, there are generally better targets to reanimate. <be> -[[Fertilid]] OUT for [[Cultivate]]. While Fertilid is a pretty fun target for Nethroi's reanimate ability, I've found I'm struggling to cast Nethroi in the first place. 
===endpanel
===endaccordion

RA_HORAKHTE on Dead Men Tell (some) Tales

3 days ago

TheShadowNite I'm glad it helped! (Some of your ideas also helped me)

Yea some of the graveyard cards I mentioned are a bit expensive, specially when you start to accumulate them in the shopping list, or just want to keep a certain budget! (I have the luck to have been playing those graveyard decks from many years and having a nice graveyard card collection, in return I suffer when I have to buy spellslinger cards hahaha)

• About Skullwinder , it's essentialy a much money cheaper Eternal witness + very fun political play (you can use it to convice an opponent to recover a removal card to help yourself, or just choose the opponent without dangerous graveyard), it has deathtouch helping to defend you later, and isn't an human so can serve as Nethroi mutation base. Ah, and the thing I was writing later but I put in the wrong place: Skullwinder or Eternal Witness can act as a loop for Living Death and Eerie Ultimatum , as when they are reanimated they can already legally target the sorcery in the graveyard by ordering the triggers.

TheShadowNite on Dead Men Tell (some) Tales

3 days ago

RA_HORAKHTE I'll be sure to check out your Nethroi deck! I considered making Nethroi into a casual 0/0 build, but my playgroup is composed of a bunch of friends who discovered MtG together, and all play pretty casual, combat focused decks. We've always played at one of the other's houses, so I never played EDH at an LGS. I knew my other decks were probably vastly underpowered for the LGS enviroment, so I decided to take this in a combo route, rather than casual and creature focused. Ooh, I haven't heard of Skullwinder before, I'll certainly consider it. I didn't include Eternal Witness as, while it is relatively cheap, it's still a little too expensive (in $$) for the effect.

Yeah, I had never heard of that combo before I asked for help here, and I think it fits really nicely! Hmmm, I see that Fauna Shaman 's effect is very powerful, but at the moment, for the initial version of the deck, I think it's too expensive. I'll definitely put it in the upgrades section though, as it seems really good. As I'm writing this, I just remembered I forgot to put in the guy from Strixhaven that's Entomb on a stick, Oriq Loremage I think? In regards to Fiend Artisan , when I made the first rough draft of the deck, I remembered adding him, but eventually cutting him because he was a $16 card, but now that he's $7 I think he can definitely find a place, thanks for the suggestion dude!

Oooh, I never considered Lurrus of the Dream-Den , I'll put him in the potential upgrades as well, as I'm trying to fill my graveyard with the combo, then reanimate it all at once. However, I'd be interested to see how he preforms, as I cut Sun Titan which has a similar effect, due to it seeming rather lackluster. I wonder if Lurrus' much cheaper mana cost would sweeten the deal enough to run it? I really like Eerie Ultimatum as a "second copy" of Nethroi, especially as, like you said, it can grab lands/artifacts etc. Living Death also seems amazing, for just 5 mana you can return all creatures from your graveyard to the battlefield? Yes please! Thank you for all the suggestions dude!

RA_HORAKHTE on Dead Men Tell (some) Tales

3 days ago

Hi TheShadowNite!

Love to see more Nethroi deck articles there, I also have a Nethroi EDH deck (NETHROI: EERIE PATH OF DEATH) but I'm still trying to improve it bit by bit. I've played other reanimator decks in the past (being a classic Meren player), and when Ikoria released Nethroi gived me a fresh and awesome legend to work in Abzan, a color combination that I loved but I didn't like previous commander options. My Nethroi deck is a bit more high CMC casual one, with some timmy stompy creatures, just because I already own more powerful decks for more competitive games, but still like to learn how people power up Nethroi. And if you include creatures like Eternal Witness or Skullwinder , you'll be able to loop thoses sorceries without limit.

Love your idea of including the Animate Dead + Leonin Relic-Warder combo. In my deck I play some combos too (like persist creatures + Good-Fortune Unicorn / Luminous Broodmoth and Sun Titan + Angelic Renewal / Fiend Hunter ) but as I also play Animate Dead , I could fit the Relic-warder or change some of my combos for it!

By the way, what do you think about Fauna Shaman and Fiend Artisan ?. Both help fill the graveyard while tutoring any needed creature for each situation. I play them a lot in many graveyard decks.

More ideas:

Lurrus of the Dream-Den your deck has a very low CMC, you'll be able to abuse Lurrus to keep the engine going before you reach Nethroi or late game-ending plays. Eerie Ultimatum I play it just because not always you can play Nethroi, it may ge countered or the mutation host destroyed... but having the Ultimatium as another way of mass reanimate can help and take the opponents unawared. It will also reanimate any permanent: lands, artifacts, enchantments... so powerful. Similar Living Dead: a classic reanimator deck staple, can act as a mass removal / mass reanimator / both... I think it's key.

RivenEsq on Selvala, Heart of the Storm

5 months ago

Duskwatch Recruiter  ^Flip -> Ghalta, Primal Hunger

Ravaging Riftwurm -> Hunted Troll

Skullwinder -> Karametra's Acolyte

Yisan, the Wanderer Bard -> Ashaya, Soul of the Wild

Deglamer -> Allosaurus Shepherd

Groundswell -> Regal Force

Might of Old Krosa -> Sylvan Safekeeper

Cloudstone Curio -> Collector Ouphe

Memory Jar -> Return of the Wildspeaker

Paradox Engine -> Shared Summons

Song of the Dryads -> Veil of Summer

Phytoburst -> Finale of Devastation

Primal Command -> Kogla, the Titan Ape

Uncage the Menagerie -> Mox Diamond

Mouth of Ronom -> Kenrith's Transformation

Somberwald Stag -> Jeweled Lotus

Lupine Prototype -> Hyrax Tower Scout

Fierce Empath -> Manglehorn

Weird Harvest -> Elvish Spirit Guide

Reclamation Sage -> Relic Golem

Dryad Arbor -> War Room

Forest -> Turntimber Symbiosis  ^Flip

Forest -> Ancient Tomb

Forest -> Emergence Zone

Forest -> Homeward Path

Forest -> Castle Garenbrig

bertpersyn on Trading Post N

6 months ago

Apex Altisaur, Skullwinder, Cinder Glade en Wolfir Silverheart liggen aan de kant.

multimedia on Flora & Fauna

7 months ago

Hey, you're welcome. Do you own all the cards in the sideboard? There's several cards in the sideboard that are better than cards in the main deck.

If you choose to add the two card infinite green mana combo these are some changes to consider:

• Cut Thorn Elemental for Karametra's Acolyte
• Cut Challenger Troll for Sword of the Paruns
• Cut Vivien's Invocation for Yeva, Nature's Herald
• Cut Verdant Sun's Avatar for Temur Sabertooth
• Cut Llanowar Scout for Skullwinder
• Cut Hooded Hydra for Genesis Hydra

Sabertooth is a very good green creature with or without the combo. It's ability is repeatable and it gives you lots of value from creatures who have an enter the battlefield (ETB) ability by bouncing the creature and then casting it again. Genesis Hydra is a unique creature in green since it can cheat any nonland permanent with CMC X or less you reveal from X cards onto the battlefield which includes not just a creature, but also an enchantment, artifact or Planeswalker. Being able to repeat this effect with Sabertooth can give you a lot of value in mono green.

multimedia on Flora & Fauna

7 months ago

Hey, one advantage that this Nylea has as Commander is she's mana sink to get creatures into your hand because if you don't reveal a creature you can put that card into graveyard and look again. With infinite green mana you can find and cast all the creatures in your deck or just find a specific one, cast it and repeat on your turn. With Yeva, Nature's Herald you can cast creatures at instant speed and you can activate Nylea at instant speed.

• Karametra's Acolyte + Sword of the Paruns or more expensive price Umbral Mantle.

This interaction is a combo to make infinite green mana. There needs to be minimum four green devotion for Karametra's Acolyte. Mystery Booster version of Umbral Mantle is $5 at TCGPlayer. Sword of the Paruns is slower than Mantle, because have to pay mana to equip it, but that's why it's less than $2. As long as Acolyte is equipped and can tap then you can make infinite green mana at instant speed which means you can do the combo on your last opponent's turn.

1. Assemble the infinite mana combo.
2. Using infinite mana activate Nylea until you get Yeva, Nature's Herald into your hand and end your turn.
3. On last opponent's turn make infinite mana combo again.
4. Flash in Yeva then activate Nylea to find and put all creatures into your hand.
5. Cast all your creatures since they have flash from Yeva.
6. On your next turn attack with all your creatures and Nylea.

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• Temur Sabertooth + Skullwinder or more expensive price Eternal Witness.

Nylea puts cards that aren't creatures into your graveyard and you can advantage of this with green recursion. With infinite green mana Skullwinder + Temur Sabertooth can recur all cards in your graveyard that Nylea put there. Eternal Witness is a better Skullwinder, but more expensive price. Sabertooth can also give you infinite ETB triggers of a creature such as Acidic Slime to destroy all your opponents lands which can be game winning.

If you're interested in these suggestions I offer more advice to make cuts.

Good luck with your deck.